PetMed Express, Inc. Fourth Quarter Earnings Sneak Peek

PetMed Express, Inc. (NASDAQ:PETS) will unveil its latest earnings on Monday, May 7, 2012. PetMed Express is a nationwide pet pharmacy. The company markets prescription and non-prescription pet medications and other health products for dogs, cats, and horses direct to the consumer.

PetMed Express, Inc. Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for net income of 18 cents per share, a decline of 5.3% from the company’s actual earnings for the same quarter a year ago. During the past three months, the average estimate has moved down from 19 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved down. It has been unchanged at 18 cents during the last month. Analysts are projecting profit to rise by 15.2% versus last year to 78 cents.

Past Earnings Performance: Last quarter, the company beat estimates by 3 cents, coming in at profit of 19 cents per share against an estimate of net income of. The company also topped expectations in the second quarter.

Wall St. Revenue Expectations: On average, analysts predict $52 million in revenue this quarter, a rise of 2.2% from the year-ago quarter. Analysts are forecasting total revenue of $233.8 million for the year, a rise of 0.9% from last year’s revenue of $231.6 million.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts are bearish on PetMed Express, as three analysts rate it as a sell, one rates it as a buy and three rate it as a hold.

A Look Back: In the third quarter, profit fell 13.8% to $3.9 million (19 cents a share) from $4.5 million (20 cents a share) the year earlier, but exceeded analyst expectations. Revenue rose 12% to $50.5 million from $45.1 million.

Key Stats:

On the top line, the company is looking to build a positive trend after last quarter’s growth snapped a string of drops. Revenue fell 1.1% in the first quarter and 4.9% in the second quarter before climbing in the third quarter.

Heading into this earnings announcement, net income has dropped 24.9% on average for the last four quarters.

Stock Price Performance: Between March 5, 2012 and May 1, 2012, the stock price had risen $1.30 (11%), from $11.78 to $13.08. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between January 10, 2012 and January 24, 2012, when shares rose for 10 straight days, increasing 20.1% (+$2.09) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between November 15, 2011 and November 25, 2011 when shares fell for eight straight days, dropping 7.5% (-72 cents) over that span.